Warning: this is not my typical kind of post…

Every where we look it seems that sex scandals rock the news. Today it’s Penn State and their legendary football coach Joe Paterno. How sad.

You know I love the world of sports and sports performance. I spend a lot of energy now using sports psychology techniques to help people heal sexually. Perhaps I’ve never answered the question to my followers of, “Why?”

Watching the Joe Paterno drama unfold on the internet and the brief moments that I turn on the TV has me stirred to answer that question and make a point.

It MUST become too dangerous to have sex with children or to cover up for those who do. In staying silent about what he knew, Joe Paterno was wrong, and should indeed be dismissed from his seat of glory. Of course he would do things differently if he could. He is not a monster. It’s just that the issue is bigger than it seemed.

The reason I have poured myself into sex & relationship issues, is because my eyes were opened a few years ago to the prevalence of child sex trafficking that happens right here in our own country. In every American city, predators know just where to go to pay for sex with a child. This does not count all the other ways that predators get their sick “fix.” The average child molester will abuse more than 350 victims during his lifetime. Three hundred and fifty – innocent lives crushed! The average age of a child victim – eleven years old.

When the influence of such sickness rears its head on our top universities, and athletic programs, is it right to turn our heads just because football victories may be on the line? Surely not. The thought should nauseate us.

 

 

This is a hideous multi-billion dollar criminal industry and frankly, I can’t bring myself to look at it too closely.

That’s why in 2010, I teamed up with Stop Child Trafficking Now, the only organization that infiltrates, investigates and brings air-tight cases to law enforcement to collapse wicked trafficking rings. They employ retired Navy Seals who have dedicated the rest of their lives to use their amazing reconnaissance skills for justice. They work to make it too dangerous to exploit a child.

For my part, I finally built Winning At Romance so I could create something beautiful—healthy, sexy love lives—and use the funds to help stop something so hideous.

So far, I’ve only been able to give in the thousands to this organization, but my goal is six figures.

This is what drives me:

-An indignation over evil.

-The knowledge that the love inside my home is the kind of love craved everywhere.

-The conviction that together, we can truly change the world.

For this I will risk being misunderstood. I will endure ugly emails from those who don’t agree with my message or my methods. I’ll talk about sex on every radio & TV show that lets me, and I will continue to believe that Love is greater than evil, Healing is greater than brokenness, and Light will triumph over darkness. I know The Redeemer lives and relationships can be transformed.

So why else do I talk so much about stuff that no one else will touch? Because giving real, honest answers to people’s real honest pain is the only way I know to do my part.

Do I still offer regular Peak Performance coaching? ABSOLUTELY – and I still LOVE it. I just speak to more areas of a person’s performance now.

I know what compels me. My prayer for you is that you will know what compels you—and you will live in integrity to your calling. And of course, I hope you will join me in this cause to reclaim pure love in a world gone mad.

I believe in you!

 

 

 

Gina

P.S. If you would like to join me, here’s what to do:

Please go to my facebook page, hit “like” and fill in the form on the welcome page for regular updates. And then tell three friends to do the same.

www.facebook.com/WinningAtRomance

 

 

Kristan came home from kindergarten one day and looked for her big brother Jordan, who was already an athlete in the 3^nd grade.

In her “Elmer Fudd” accent she expressed her dismay.

“Jowden, we played this game in P.E. today where they roll a ball to us and we’re ‘upposed to kick it!”

“You mean kickball?”

“Yeah, kickball,” she agreed. “But ‘cept  I couldn’t kick the ball!”

“Aw come on,” said the 8 year old, “Let’s go in the back yard and I’ll show you how.”

Fast forward 11 years.

As I write this, Kristan is the captain of her high school volleyball team, and she is playing a tournament in the town where Jordan goes to college.

“Please bring your whole baseball team to cheer for us!” She begged him.

I had to laugh.

Two thoughts crossed my mind:

1. Where in the WORLD did the years go?

2. Who would have guessed Kristan-the-bookworm would also become an athlete?

The thing is, she found HER game.

Some of us go our whole lives feeling like we are not athletic enough, talented enough, smart enough, or gifted enough to excel in anything.

How tragic.

The truth is, those who become champions have:

1.kept trying new things until they found what they love

and

2. They refused to quit when it got hard.

Today I hope you will cherish each moment of life, as the time goes by so quickly.

Also when you find your game – give it all you’ve got.

It’s never too late to find that thing that helps you express your strengths, challenge your weaknesses and grow up a little more.

It reminds me of the movie, The Legend of Baggar Vance, where Will Smith plays a simple but mysterious golf guru who appears to coach a down- on- his- game golfer,  back to greatness.

“You ain’t alone” he says,

“I’m right here with ya. I’ve been here all along. Now play the game, your game – the one that only you was meant to play -the one that was given to you when you came into this world. You ready?”

Your game has been here all along, waiting for you to claim it!

Keep playing to win.

I’m in your corner,

Gina

P.S. I will be one of the guest speakers in Chicago in 2 weeks at Make An Impact Live with Dr. Mollie Marti, Bob Burg, Michael Port, Carol Roth, John Morgan, Frank McKinney (Who are all NY Times Best Selling Authors,) and other life changers.

We will walk with you through a plan to unearth YOUR Big Game, Your Big Dream, and the Impact you are meant to make in the earth. You will walk away with a plan to see it come to pass.

Please check it out and reply to this email if you want to meet me there. I can get you a special price of 2 tickets for $495. That is a huge discount.

www.MakeAnImpactLive.com

Cinderella Stories, Baseball Victories and Love

- by Gina Parris

 

Have you ever witnessed a victory that was more than just a win? I bet you have.

Yesterday I watched the last game of Firstborn’s junior college baseball conference playoffs. I left at noon for a game that started at 2:00 pm in blazing heat, and ended at 9:30 pm in a flooded field, with freezing – but ecstatic fans!

At the end of four days of play, our underdogs were better than nine other teams, including two that are nationally ranked. They were undefeated tournament champs, and proved what we all love to believe:

Cinderella lives!

The post-game celebration had to be at least as magical as any fairy-tale Royal Ball. The players, coaches and parents laughed, played and lingered on the field in jubilation. The boys, who had worked so hard all year, sometimes in resentment, looked once again like Little Leaguers. The smiles were uncontrollable. One of the superstar pitchers clutched the giant trophy close to his chest as if it were a baby.

“Well you have no idea,” he whispered, “I DID go through nine months of hell for this!”

All of us who are mothers, laughed hard.

“Oh yes, we have an idea!”

I kept thinking about that scene on the drive home. What in the world would cause me to give up 12 solid hours one day, and change next week’s plans for baseball? Isn’t it just a game?

Well, yes, and no.

Yes. It’s a game. No, it’s not just about a game.

It’s about the lessons.

• It’s about setting goals and being willing to endure hellish moments of conditioning to reach them.

• It’s about overcoming the doubts of everyone around you, and the doubts inside your self.

• It’s about facing your own demons and errors and losses and choosing to still go on the field looking for victory.

• It’s about loving your coach one day, hating him the next, loving him again, and realizing that commitment is worth it in the end.

• It’s about trusting that ultimately, the Game knows.

• It knows that for better or for worse, what you do in private will show up before the crowd.

• It’s about character that is developed and that can never be taken from you.

• It’s a about taking talent that you are born with, and turning it into skill through hours and hours of dedicated practice.

• It’s about giving birth to the dream you’ve carried inside you for so long – and realizing that it’s never easy.

Baseball. Cinderella. Giving birth.

What else in life might those things remind YOU of?

I am reminded of so many things, but right now, it reminds me of marriage, of family, of commitment and pain and pleasure and anger and ecstasy.

I think of the days those boys signed their letters of intent to play ball. Surrounded by parents and coaches and athletic directors, the moment was full of hope and enthusiasm.

Like the bride and groom – surrounded by their wedding party.

The marriage begins.

The honeymoon is magical.

And then, Real Life sets in. There are good times and bad, for better or for worse.

Victory. Pain. Anger. Frustration. Victory. Loss. Victory. Happiness. Pain… and on it goes.

Finally one day the players, the lovers, decide that the commitment was worth it all. When that happens, they realize they will do whatever it takes. They will choose to keep playing to win.

That’s why we love a victory on a field. It represents more than winning a game. It speaks to the champion’s heart inside of each one of us.

I don’t know about you – but I certainly will keep playing to win! As I do, I’ll be right here…

In your corner!

 

Gina

 

 

Winning At Weight Loss by Making Healthy Habits a GAME!

by Gina Parris

I know when we talk about feeling good about ourselves, the issues of weight and weight loss, and health, and body image and all kinds of things come up.  When my husband left last summer for a year, I let my body turn to mush! I got addicted to caffeine and then I wanted to cleanse my system and get healthy. So a few weeks ago, I decided to do this fit n fun game with products from Isagenix. I was pretty stressed about it after I agreed to the “game” part, because I thought it might feel like a freaking diet, which I am highly opposed to. However, it’s been pretty fun.

In the first 3 weeks I lost 10 pounds and 14 inches off my mushy thighs &  hips. But mostly I feel better than I’ve felt in a really long time.  I really didn’t expect to feel good or get specific results. I just followed the process, and usually I did not do that perfectly. Here’s a video of me telling how you play the game.

Anyway – I plan to keep playing and I’d love it if you want to join me!
You can check out the game right here!

FIT N FUN GAME WITH GINA

Whatever it is you want to change in your life, I hope you will build a team around yourself to make it more fun!

What do you think? Have any of you ever had success getting healthier? I’d love to hear about it.

In your corner,

 

Gina

 

“I just want to know how to be HAPPY!”

This is the request those of us in the people-building business  get more than any other.

“How to be Happy.”

I’ll never forget the time I was just 15 years old. I was completely obsessed with my
boyfriend, who I thought brought me great happiness. The downside of course, was
that other times, he brought me great despair.

We dated for several years that were quite up and down. Still, one day frustrated with my moodiness, he said some of the most important words I’ve ever heard from anybody.

With as much kindness as he could muster, he looked at me and said,

“Gina! I can not be your happiness committee. It’s not fair, and it’s not a role I can fulfill. If you are not happy in yourself, than whatever I do won’t be enough. Really, your cheerfulness is the most beautiful thing about you.”

I sat there stunned, knowing that I had just been put in my place. In that moment he
was correct. In fact, when I was able to find that happiness in myself, and in my
relationship with God, I was able to live without that particular boyfriend!

When I met my husband, I realized that the emotional roller coaster was NOT a part
of life anymore.

What were my secrets to becoming happy with my self? Here’s three keys:

1. My Identity is in God, not in man.
Seems silly, I know. But truly – I became confident because I am called and raised up with Christ, seated in Heavenly places, and loved perfectly, not because my boyfriend was a football star. This makes me happy.

2. I Have Nothing to Prove and Everything to Give
When I took my focus off myself and realized that people just want to be loved and accepted, I realized that I carry a gift from Heaven. I may have zillions of flaws, but I love people – and that makes up for a multitude of shortcomings.
This makes me feel happy.

3. I am my own best friend
Since it was easy for me to be gracious and loving to other people, one day I decided to treat myself the way I would treat others. I chose kindness and self-grace. I’m not perfect here, but most days I am free from beating myself up and it makes me happy.

If you practice these mindset shifts, you will also find yourself happier! And happy people are nice to have around!

Try it and let me know how it goes.

Until then I’ll be right here, in your corner,

Gina

Please get your free mental mastery mini-course above to learn how to be happy and successful in life and love!

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Gina Parris is an internationally sought-after
peak performance speaker and coach who
helps individuals and organizations all
over the world to reach their full potential – Joyfully!

www.GinaParris.com